Posted on 01/24/2020 11:57:18 PM PST by Spktyr
-content is video at link above or below-
U.S. Navy's F/A-18 Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, T-45 Goshawk, assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23, and E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, C-2A Greyhound, assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 20, flight operations test on USS Gerald R. Ford's (CVN 78) flight deck, Jan. 2020.
Ford is currently conducting Aircraft Compatibility Testing to further test its Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch Systems (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG).
Looks like they have the EMALS system working at least at a basic level. Someone's comment on the video is below, and from what I can see, he's right:
"First thing i notice straight away is at the moment the aircraft starts moving the EMALS is more gentle with the aircraft than a steam catapult, it doesn't yank the aircraft forward like a bully wanting it's lunch money. That's going to help increase part life on the aircraft. The other thing i notice is that despite not being as hard on the plane it appears to get it up to a higher speed. The climb out of that f-18 at 1:34 looks much stronger and cleaner than the climb out of an F-18 from a steam catapult. Sometimes from a steam cat you'll see the aircraft drop a few feet and or dip a wing after launch, not here. However i'd want to hear from the pilots themselves what they think of it."
Interesting jump on that E-2 as she went off the deck - nice climb
The technology was at least in part developed by Disney as a method for launching their rollercoasters. Think Aerosmith Rockin’ Rollercoaster or California Screamin’.
CC
Screaming Mimi!!
That’s not a real gun, is it Clark?
Yes it is! It’s a Magnum P.I.!
It could break the skin and cause a very bad infection!
I’m sure everyone involved is very happy it appears its starting to be a working system. This one has been very hard to get working.
Heads up, the Chinese are fitting a simpler version to their upcoming Type 002 carriers. The biggest difference is that their version is capacitance powered and does not require a nuclear reactor’s power output to fire. On the other hand, it won’t be able to launch quite as large or heavy aircraft as the US EMALS.
In related news, the Chinese already have a railgun turret undergoing sea tests... and we don’t.
Yep. We had some people here on FR claiming it could never work - but from what reports were made public, the problem (at least to me) seemed to be largely control software related as linear induction motors like EMALS isn’t exactly new technology and can be found in manufacturing and mass transport: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_induction_motor
For a time, Disney World in Orlando had a small linear magnetic people mover that provided an elevated ride around Tomorrowland. Looking back, some of the engineering must have been figuring out how to provide a smooth ride for passenger cars that had widely varying loads. In concept, that same kind of problem must have bedeviled the EMALS system.
Anyone with a decent handle on the actual reality would respect what the Chinese can do.
Remember, the Germans had “superior technology” and sneered at the Americans that could only churn out appliances and cheap crap in WW2. How did that end, again?
but...sounds like you’re kind of afraid of the chinee...
Remember, our Navy runs into merchant shipping - not once, but repeatedly. Not the most confidence inspiring tendency. But the PLAN operates in the same area and they *don’t* run into merchant shipping.
Our military is heavily damaged from the Obama years and is actually having to play catchup with other countries at current. Even if you use the normal Chinese corrective factor (divide any claim in half), you should be concerned about their technical capabilities.
Again, how did the “superior technology” power fare against the “cheap crap” power in the last global hot war?
why are you afraid? what makes you think like this?
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